Stoke v Aston Villa: Diouf to get Potters off to a flyer
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Stoke are heavily fancied to be the best team of the Midlands this season and they can set out their stall early on with an opening day victory over Aston Villa.
The Potters shouldn’t find victory two much of a stretch have done the double over the Villans last term and added genuine quality to the squad throughout the summer.
The bookies agree, however, and with Mark Hughes’ side priced at 19/20 to take all three points the following three bets could represent better value.
In both of Stoke’s victories over Paul Lambert’s men last year both teams found the back of the net, with the Potters taking the spoils 4-1 and 2-1.
With Villa having lost six of their last eight Premier League matches another defeat looks nailed on but with both teams netting in four of the last five meetings the visitors should at least get on the sheet.
Despite proving himself in the Bundesliga with a haul of 35 goals from 71 games Diouf will be keen to shake off his tag as a Premier League flop having failed to make the grade at Manchester United.
It takes a lot to impress Mark Hughes but the Welshman has put his faith in the 26-year-old and punters should do the same given his knack of opening the scoring in games.
The Senegal ace struck first 11 times during his spell with Hannover and at 5/1 looks a tempting price to get things up and running at the Britannia.
It’s true that scorecast bets rarely come in but having done the research and checked the prices 33/1 to is simply too good to ignore for this one.
Should Stoke win, both teams score and Diouf nets first then 2-1 seems the most likely scoreline as it proved last time Villa travelled to the Britannia.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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